"PISSED OFF!" Izumi yelled as Sherman glared at her.
"I get that but what's an old woman going to do against a former State Alchemist and proud member of the Red King-OMPH-DAH!" Sherman yelped as Izumi angrily clapped her hands together and slammed them into the ground, causing an earthen fist to sock him in the gut, forcing him to double-over just in time to be delivered a vicious punch by another earthen fist square in the face, tossing him down onto his back while clutching his nose. (AC: Amestris Military March – FMA:B OST 3)
"Alright let's get a few things straight! First: I am not old! Second: I don't care who you are! You so much as touch these boys and I'll not just beat you around some! I will outright KILL YOU!" Izumi yelled, flames in her eyes, as Sherman fearfully glared at her.
"Where did you learn to transmute without a circle?! What are you?! A State Alchemist?!" Sherman asked as Izumi cracked her knuckles.
"What? Me? A State Alchemist? Don't be absurd! I'm just a simple housewife!" Izumi replied before a chimera came bounding around a corner ahead of her, a large warthog the size of a bear, complete with bear claws for feet. She immediately glared at the chimera as it charged towards her but to Sherman's amazement she grabbed the chimera by the neck and launched it into the air behind her.
"Honey! Comin' at ya!" she yelled towards someone up the street.
"Right!" a gruff voice replied before behemoth of a man clotheslined the chimera while it was still in midair, then drove its head into the ground, crushing its skull and killing it.
"Who the hell is that?!" Sherman asked in alarm.
"He's my husband." Izumi replied casually, knowing full well that Sherman was attempting to pull a fast one on her but fortunately for Sherman, he didn't get the chance as Zampano and Jerzo grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Oh crap! Boss! We've gotta run! This woman…she's the one who taught the Elric brothers to use Alchemy! She's Izumi Curtis! Their teacher!" Zampano yelped.
"What?! That would explain how she's able to transmute without a circle!" Sherman exclaimed as Izumi smirked at him.
"Transmuting without a circle has nothing to do with it! I only taught them the basics of Alchemy! They're the idiots who went and got that power on their own!" Izumi declared. By now, Sig had freed Ed and Winry from Jerzo's saliva and was helping Paninya clear the saliva off her face and hands while Ed helped Al to his feet. At the same time, May had used what alchemy she knew and transmuted a hole for her to escape from, climbing out with Xiao-Mei on her shoulder.
"Damn it! Retreat!" Sherman yelled as Jerzo hoisted him onto his back and leapt away, a reptilian chimera with a saddle on it running up towards Zampano, not even stopping as the chimera leapt onto its back, the terrorists fleeing as fast as they could. (End AC) Izumi stood watching the fleeing terrorists for a few minutes in silence, Ed and Al both nervously approaching.
"Uh Teacher?" Ed meekly asked before suddenly he was socked in the jaw by Izumi, sending him flying.
"Brother!" Al exclaimed before he was grabbed by the arm and thrown onto his back.
"You boys! Still can't handle yourselves in a fight despite all you went through two years ago!" Izumi yelled at them in annoyance.
"But Teacher! AH!" Al flinched as Izumi grabbed him by the collar and dragged him over to where Ed had landed on his back, cradling his jaw. She proceeded to toss Al next to Ed before kneeling down between them, staring at them both with a stern glare on her face. Finally she let out a sigh.
"What am I going to do with you two?" Izumi asked with a small smile. The brothers looked at each other for a second then back at her before smiling at her, both grinning.
"It's good to see you too, Teacher." Ed said as Izumi hugged them both. Winry and May stood off to the side, watching with understanding smiles on their faces while Sig walked over and helped the boys to their feet by picking them up by the collar. Paninya was confused.
"Uh…what's going on? Who is this woman?" Paninya asked Winry.
"She's Izumi Curtis. She was Ed and Al's teacher back when they wanted to learn alchemy. She's easily one of the best alchemy teachers in all of Amestris. That's her husband Sig. They run a simple butcher's shop in Dublith." Winry explained as Paninya nodded understandingly.
"Then why did she attack them?" Paninya asked.
"It's just how she is." Winry replied as the three finally broke their embrace.
"So what brought you all the way to Rush Valley, Teacher?" Al asked as Sig put his arm around his wife's shoulder.
"The festival actually. The Rush Valley Automail Festival is where Sig and I went on our third date when we were younger." Izumi replied.
"Our date ended almost the same way too." Sig commented as Izumi smiled innocently.
"I had a bit of a temper back then." She replied with a girlish laugh, causing the brothers to sweat drop.
"Really. We didn't know." They both replied with innocent smiles on their faces.
"So what brings you boys to Rush Valley? Here for the festival too?" Izumi asked.
"Actually we were on our way to see you. We've got a bit of a situation. State Alchemist business and such." Al replied, holding up his watch.
"So you're a State Alchemist too now? I'm surprised, Alphonse." Izumi said, giving the watch a look of uncertainty.
"It's a long story." Al replied.
"We have time." Izumi said as Al swallowed nervously and nodded.
…
Back at the hotel, Izumi, Ed, Al, and Sig, were seated around a table in the hotel room that the brothers were sharing. The girls' room was across the hall with Pinako. Winry and May sat listening quietly to the conversation from nearby. Paninya was next door watching Pinako fix the armor. They had just finished explaining the recent goings on with the Red Kingdom, the threat against May's life, and the Homunculi to the Curtis's.
"So the Red Kingdom brought back that little girl as a Homunculus?" Izumi asked, clearly disturbed by the thought.
"Yes ma'am. It looked like her, sounded like her, but it didn't at all act like her." Ed replied solemnly.
"I see. This complicates matters, doesn't it? But that doesn't explain why you wanted to see me, boys." Izumi said as Ed looked towards Al.
"Actually it has something to do with that Dr. Garand guy I mentioned earlier. I spoke with Dr. Marcoh, the former Crystal Alchemist. He used to be an associate of Dr. Garand's and he…he said that Garand might've solved the problem with human transmutations." Al said, Ed, Izumi, and Sig's expressions all darkening at the mention of the taboo. (AC: Lurking – FMA:B OST 1).
"What was his theory, Alphonse?" Izumi asked.
"His theory was to create the body first, just the body, and then try and transmute the soul into it." Al said but Izumi shook her head.
"Alphonse, I can tell you from personal experience that theory won't work. It's almost exactly the same process I used when I broke the taboo." Izumi said sadly, Sig placing a hand around her back, a sad expression on his face as well.
"That's what I thought but the more I thought about it, the more I wonder if perhaps he's right after all." Al said, earning grim looks from the others at the table.
"What are you saying Al?" Ed asked.
"I'm saying that I might be on to the Red Kingdom's motives. Remember what the Homunculi sisters said back at the house? They said that they were the first of a new generation. And do you remember what Ms. Fletcher said before that? She said that they wanted to create a kingdom of immortal beings. We all know that the Red Kingdom is another name for a Philosopher's Stone, so could that be their motive? Could they be trying to revive the dead?" Al asked.
"I'm not sure I follow, Alphonse." May said.
"Let me ask this. What would happen if you combined a Philosopher's Stone with a lifeless human body? What would happen?" Al asked as they looked at each other.
"It's possible that…wait, Alphonse are you suggesting that-…-are you suggesting that they're trying to revive the dead as homunculi?" Izumi asked.
"Perhaps but I'd need more to go on. I have a theory but I'd need to talk to General Mustang in Central. He's the only one who could get that information for me." Al said as he stood up, walking towards the phone. (End AC)
…
In Central, Roy stood staring at a corkboard covered in notes on the Red Kingdom's actions. The only team members in the office besides Hawkeye were Fuery and Sheska, both working on their own projects. Roy had just finished meeting with Xiao Fujin earlier that morning to discuss security arrangements for the dignitaries from Xing that would be arriving in Ishval in two days. As he stood examining the board, his phone started ringing, Hawkeye quietly rose from her chair, allowing the General to maintain his concentration, as she answered the phone.
"General Mustang's office, Captain Hawkeye speaking, state your business." Hawkeye said into the receiver, Roy not breaking eye contact with the board. Hawkeye then lowered the receiver.
"It's Fullmetal, sir. He's calling with a status report on his investigation. He says it's urgent." Hawkeye said as Roy turned towards her, taking the phone in his hand.
"Fullmetal, report! What've you found on Dr. Garand?" Roy asked.
"A great deal, sir. He was at Laboratory Five like he claimed, Dr. Marcoh can corroborate it. He was married to another State Alchemist for several years, a woman named-." "Dr. Elizabeth Morser, we know that already Elric." Roy interrupted.
"Sir there's more. It's possible that we know why the Red Kingdom is after him. We think that he knows how to create Homunculi!" Al reported, causing Roy's eyes to narrow suspiciously. (AC: Mortal Sin – FMA:B OST 1)
"Say again? Did you say Homunculi?" Roy asked, earning the attention of Hawkeye, Fuery, and Sheska, the latter two visibly disturbed.
"Yes sir. We think that he may have stumbled upon it by accident while researching human transmutation. The Immortal Alchemist got the information from him and used it to create at least three Homunculi and now they want him back to avoid his telling his secret. We've encountered three of the Homunculi. One made in the image of Nina Tucker, the daughter of Shou Tucker the Sewing Life Alchemist. The other two were a pair of identical twin girls but we didn't recognize them." Al replied as Roy froze.
"Just a second Fullmetal." Roy said before lowering the receiver.
"Sheska!" Roy bellowed, the Corporal jumping to attention.
"Sir?!" she asked, saluting.
"What were the items stolen from Laboratory Four again?" Roy asked.
"Just the remains of a human and dog chimera created two years ago by the late Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist, sir!" Sheska reported as Roy scowled, glaring away from her.
"You mentioned a pair of twins? Twin girls you say?" Roy asked into the receiver as he turned towards the board, glaring at a photograph of the headstone bearing the names of Rachel and Michelle Garand.
…
Back in Rush Valley, Al listened quietly on the phone as Roy said something back to him, causing his eyes to widen and drop the phone in horror.
"Al? What is it?" Ed asked worriedly.
"It's not possible! Brother, the twin Homunculus girls we encountered…their names are Rachel and Michelle Garand, Dr. Garand and Dr. Morser's stillborn daughters!" Al explained as Ed and Izumi's eyes widened.
"Are you sure?" Ed asked.
"According to the General, they died seventeen years ago. They could've been reborn as Homunculus at some point after that." Al replied, quickly picking up the phone receiver.
"General, are you still there?!" Al asked.
"I'm here Fullmetal. Your claims make perfect sense given the evidence we have. The remains of Nina Tucker were stolen from Lab Four here in Central a few days ago, and we found eighty lifeless bodies trapped in an underground chamber beneath the ruins of Laboratory Five, sitting on a Transmutation Circle. It's possible that those people were used in the creation of a Philosopher's Stone used to bring Nina Tucker back to life as a Homunculus. Do you think Garand is involved?" Roy asked.
"No sir I don't believe so, at least not willingly. I think his ex-wife might be. The Red Kingdom is trying to create an Immortal Army to fight against Amestris and Dr. Garand was the one Father and the Homunculi had creating them for the military before the Promised Day." Al explained.
"I see. I'm going to need to corroborate this information with a second source. Alphonse, continue your investigation but make it-." Roy said but Al interrupted.
"Sir, wait, there's one more thing! We encountered an ally of the Red Kingdom, a former State Alchemist named Delilah Fletcher, the Cutting Hare Alchemist. She said that Xing would have a part to play in Amestris's destruction and that it would happen in a few days." Al said.
…
Back in Central, Roy's eyes widened.
"What?!" Roy asked.
"Exactly as it sounds, General. She didn't get to say much else because the Homunculi killed her." Al replied as Roy grimaced.
"Understood. Alphonse, you need to finish your investigation right away. Find out all you can and get it to me as soon as possible! Mustang out!" Roy ordered before slamming down the receiver and headed straight for the door.
"Hawkeye, Sheska, Fuery! Plainclothes detail, now! There's information I need to verify!" Roy ordered. (End AC)
…
Back in Rush Valley, Al hung up the phone a worried look in his eyes.
"Well Al, what's the story?" Ed asked as Al pondered.
"I think my theory is proving more and more plausible. The General said that eighty people were found dead beneath Laboratory Five just recently. He says they were on top of a transmutation circle and it's possible that they were transmuted into a Philosopher's Stone. It happened about the time Nina's remains were stolen from Laboratory Four so that same stone could've been used to create the Homunculus form of Nina." Al explained.
"But are you sure that it's possible for a Homunculus to be created that way? We don't know if that's the method." Izumi said as Ed scowled.
"There's one way to find out. We need to go to Central. I know someone who can tell us exactly how a Homunculus is made." Ed said as everyone looked at him curiously.
"Who are you talking about?" Al asked.
"An old enemy, the last of the original seven Homunculi. I'm talking about Selim Bradley, also known as the Homunculus: Pride." Ed said. Everyone seemed apprehensive about his suggestion.
"Pride? He's still alive?" Al asked as Ed hesitantly nodded.
"Yeah. Two years ago, I reduced him to a very weak state. Last I heard, he was living under the care of Mrs. Bradley, Fuhrer Bradley's widow, and he doesn't exhibit any traits typical of the other Homunculi. If anyone knows how to create a Homunculus, it'd be him." Ed replied.
"Are you sure he'd know?" Izumi asked.
"Pride was the oldest out of all seven of the original homunculi. Only Father was older. He would've been there to witness the births of the other six Homunculi." Ed replied as Izumi rose to her feet.
"Then you best get a move on. There's a train leaving for Central in less than an hour. You boys best be on it if you want to get to Central soon." Izumi said as the brothers nodded to each other.
"Yeah. Hey Winry, is my armor all fixed yet?" Ed asked as Winry nodded.
"Yeah. Granny finished working on the vital components but the armor plating needs repairs and we'll need an alchemist for that." Winry said as Ed let out a sigh.
"Time to be a human pin cushion again." Ed mumbled as they followed Ed and Winry into the girl's room where Ed's armor lay in pieces on the bed. Ed immediately blushed while reaching for his shirt buttons.
"Uh, can I get a little privacy?" Ed asked.
"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to stay. We need to talk about something." Izumi said as Ed sweat dropped.
"Uh…whatever you say, Teacher." Ed replied, hesitant to argue. The rest of the group wordlessly returned to the other room, Izumi watching Winry work on Ed. A few minutes passed and now, Ed was in a black tank top and grey shorts with various leads and wires attached to his arms, connected to the flesh via a series of needles under adhesive patches or bandages. At the same time, Izumi had repaired the armor plates using some spare scrap metal that Pinako had acquired while the four were out.
"Alright, Ed, into the armor." Winry said as Ed, scowling the entire time, crawled into the internal frame of the armor where the machinery and equipment was housed. The armor plates were stacked up on the opposite bed so it was just the framework and internal workings of the armor itself.
"That looks painful Ed." Izumi commented.
"It's nothing." Ed replied, glaring at the ceiling as Winry connected the ends of the leads to the machinery.
"I'm no automail expert, but I do know that when the nerves are connected to the automail, it's extremely painful." Izumi said as Winry pulled her wrench from her back pocket, putting it to a bolt near the back of the frame.
"Speaking of which, Ed…" Winry said as Ed braced himself for pain. Winry then turned the bolt which connected the nerves to the machinery, causing Ed to convulse in pain for a second with a loud grunt of agony.
"Ed!" Izumi exclaimed, clearly worried for Ed.
"I said it's nothing!" Ed argued against the pain.
"But you don't have to subject yourself to this, Ed!" Izumi said as Ed glared at her, grimacing as he fought the pain. (AC: Desolation – FMA:B OST 2)
"It's nothing compared to what Al had to endure in this armor!" Ed grunted.
"Ed." Izumi said softly, touched and amazed by Ed's resilience. Winry quietly and solemnly went about continuing to reattach the automail components.
"Four years. Four years of being unable to feel even the slightest of stimulus. Four years of not even feeling a warm breeze, smell a single rose, eat a single apple. Not a day goes by that I still don't blame myself for his having to endure that. He might have his body back now, but I won't forgive myself if he gets killed so soon after having gotten it back. If I can't use alchemy to protect him, I'll use everything I can use to do it instead. I don't doubt my physical capabilities, something I owe to you, Teacher, but I'll take any advantage I can to enhance those abilities." Ed explained before suddenly grimacing and convulsing as Winry connected the nerves in both arms simultaneously, the hands and arms on the prosthetics reacting to his movements.
"I understand, Ed. I just wish you'd stop beating yourself up over it." Izumi said as Ed raised his left hand, looking at the engagement ring on it.
"It's something I'll always regret doing. We both knew it was wrong but I was the one who insisted we try and bring mom back. It cost Al and I four years of our lives and we didn't even get our mom back. Some good came of those four years, sure, but I'll always regret that day." Ed said as Winry finished attaching the right leg and reconnected the nerves, causing Ed to grimace again. Winry then attached the left leg, disconnecting Ed's Automail leg but not removing it off the base while merely connecting the lines from the armor into the base.
"So you wear that armor as penance?" Izumi asked.
"Partially. I wear it because…for as long as I can remember. It's always been Edward and Alphonse Elric. Brothers till the end. We've been through a lot. Losing Mom, our training with you, trying to bring Mom back, those four years of trying to get our bodies back, and then finally getting Al back two years ago. Then this mess starts with the Red Kingdom and I couldn't stand to think of Al being out there, fighting off these Red Kingdom guys alone. At the very least, I want to be his backup. He watched out for me for all these years and I watched out for him. This armor gives me a boost to my physical strength which can give me an edge against whatever comes our way. We're brothers, it's what we do." Ed said before grimacing as Winry connected the nerves on his leg.
"You're a good brother, Ed." Izumi said as Winry stood up and grabbed the metal plating. (End AC)
"Thanks Teacher." Ed replied as Izumi and Winry started to help put the armor plating back on him. Finally it was down to the chest and back plating and helmet. Winry had the chest plate in hand, Izumi quietly picking up the back plate, pausing briefly to look at the old blood seal that had kept Al's soul bound to the armor for four years. She then started to help attach the back plate but paused when she saw something stuck to Ed's right shoulder. She quietly pulled a small rectangular slip of white paper off of his back. The paper was unmarked.
"What's that?" Winry asked as Izumi furrowed her brow, Ed looking over his shoulder towards his teacher.
"Not sure. It was stuck to Ed's back." She replied as she unfolded the paper. It was a paper that had been folded five times accordion style, and then folded over long ways. On the paper were listed two rows of seemingly random numbers and a sentence: "Where the first shot was fired."
"Looks like gibberish to me." Winry said but Izumi wasn't convinced.
"I'm not sure. It looks important. Let me look into it. After all, you've got a train to catch." Izumi said as she affixed the back plate to Ed's armor, Ed picking up the helmet.
"Thanks teacher. We'll be sure to drop by to Dublith at some point for a visit." Ed said as Izumi smiled.
"Sig and I will prepare our best pork roast for you and Al. You too Winry. You're a part of their family so you're part of ours." Izumi said as Winry smiled appreciatively to her.
"Thank you Mrs. Curtis." Winry said as they hurried out the door. Ed, Al, Winry, and May quickly said their goodbyes before running off, hurrying to the train station as Paninya and Pinako exited into the hall.
"Hmph. Gone already and without so much as a goodbye. Well that's those boys for you." Pinako commented.
"Aww, and I missed getting to watch Ed get into that armor too." Paninya grumbled.
"Mrs. Rockbell, do you mind if I use your phone?" Izumi asked, earning a curious look from the older automail mechanic. (AC: T.B.C. – FMA:B OST 2)
"Hmm? I don't see a reason why not." Pinako said as Izumi smiled.
"Thank you." Izumi said as she walked into the room and immediately picked up the phone, dialing a number as she reached into her pocket, pulling out the folded list of numbers. After a few seconds of waiting for an answer, someone finally picked up.
"We have it. The numbers are-…" Izumi said as she started to rattle off the numbers "…-and the final line reads: 'where the first shot was fired.' Not sure what it means but I assume you do."
Pinako and Paninya were both curious now as they stuck their heads into the door, Sig standing behind them with his arms crossed over his chest. He knew what was going on but wasn't about to say anything.
"Right. We'll be there as soon as possible…What's that? A car and escort? You're too kind…Yes. They're headed to Central right now...We'll be seeing you soon then, and I'm bringing a guest…Right, I'll be sure to let her know." Izumi replied before hanging up the phone and looking square at Paninya who sweat dropped.
"Uh, what's going on?" Paninya asked as the four headed for the first floor.
"Mrs. Rockbell, I'd recommend that you remain here in Rush Valley for a while longer. Sig and I rented a room in a neighboring hotel for a whole week and we only arrived yesterday. You can stay there if you'd like and save yourself the money for an extra night here." Izumi said as Pinako looked at Izumi with suspicion.
"Awfully generous of you, but where are you two off to in such a rush?" Pinako asked as they exited the hotel where an ordinary looking salon car sat with a trio of familiar faces standing at attention outside of it, saluting them.
"First Lieutenants Darius, Heinkel, and Second Lieutenant Yoki reporting Mr. and Mrs. Curtis." Darius greeted as Izumi turned towards Pinako.
"I don't have the time to explain it all to you right now but I will explain soon enough. Miss Paninya, you're to come with us. You're to consider yourself drafted by the Amestris State Military." Izumi said as Paninya sweat dropped.
"Holy crap I've been pressganged!" She whimpered.
"Don't worry, Sig and I are in the same boat. Now come on, I'll explain it all to you in the car." Izumi said as Darius, Heinkel, and Yoki got into the front seats while Sig, Izumi, and Paninya got into the passenger seats in back. Pinako watched as the car started and drove off, watching as it turned down a road headed east.
"Whatever's going to happen is going to happen soon. I just hope those boys can avert catastrophe in time." Pinako commented to herself as she turned to walk back into the hotel. (End AC).
…
(AC: Anticipation – FMA:B OST 2)
Back in Central…
It was dusk as a nondescript cargo truck rolled up outside of an old and rundown apartment complex. From the car emerged four individuals, all dressed in plainclothes. As the four climbed the steps up to the third floor, they passed Lt. Havoc in plain clothes, smoking a cigarette.
"General." Havoc greeted as Mustang, Hawkeye, Sheska, and Fuery filed past. They soon entered a room on the third floor flanked by a pair of plainclothes yet well-armed military soldiers, both with stern looking faces on them. As the four entered the room, they found Falman and Breda standing on one side of the room near the door while Catalina kept a rifle propped up on a crate and aimed at a wall with no doors or windows near it. Two other plainclothes guards stood watch with their rifles aimed towards the same wall. Their target was a human man in only a pair of tattered grey trousers, a gag over his mouth, tied to a chair with a set of strong chains. His left leg was bandaged and a garbage can near the door had two or three spent tranquilizer darts in it. It was the chimera that had been injured by Lan Fan when the four chimeras had attacked her and Alphonse several days ago. Sitting at a switchboard, listening into the phone lines was Karley, the Briggs communications officer.
"Has he said anything?" Roy asked, removing his cap and putting on his white ignition cloth gloves.
"Negative sir. He's been very hesitant to cooperate with us." Falman reported.
"Sir, permission to speak freely?" Breda asked.
"Granted." Roy replied as Breda glanced towards Karley and some of the other plainclothes troops.
"Why are there Briggs men here?" Breda asked softly.
"Before her death I asked General Armstrong for some of her most trusted and loyal subordinates to assist in keeping the chimera captive. We both felt it wise to keep him out of official records to avoid any prison murders. We'll file the right paperwork once it's over and he can rot in a prison cell for the rest of his life." Roy explained.
"Okay but what's with the two in the next room?" Breda asked.
"That's on a need to know basis, Breda." Roy said as he approached the chimera, the two Briggs guards and Catalina keeping their guns trained on the chimera who regarded Roy with an angry glare.
"Okay, we've let you sit and stew for a few days now. Time for you to tell us something about the Red Kingdom. We know that the former State Alchemist: Dr. Elizabeth Morser is involved and that the Red Kingdom knows how to create something called a Homunculus. You know what that is, don't you?" Roy asked as the chimera narrowed his gaze at him, an audible growl escaping him.
"I'll take that as a yes. We know that the Red Kingdom has at least three Homunculi at their disposal. Homunculus recreations of Dr. Morser's stillborn daughters and a third made to look like the late daughter of the late State Alchemist Shou Tucker. Is the Immortal Alchemist the one that created them?" Roy asked as the chimera sighed heavily, looking away from him.
"Another yes. We also know that the Red Kingdom has something planned to occur the day after tomorrow in Ishval, presumably when the first train from Xing arrives via the cross-desert railway. Can I presume it's an assassination attempt?" Roy asked but the chimera didn't react, his eyebrow arching slightly.
"Unknown, sir." Hawkeye replied, interpreting the chimera's reaction.
"He doesn't know. Which means he wasn't in on that part and is too low ranked to know anything. We can infer from this that the operation they have planned for Ishval is big, known only to their higher ranking members." Roy commented as Karley glanced towards him curiously.
"General, with all due respect, but how can we be sure of that theory?" Karley asked.
"We have evidence to prove that they have something planned to occur in two days, and the train from Xing arrives in two days. The dates coincide." Roy said before a light buzzing sound came from the switchboard, Karley immediately turning and patching into the call, a pen and a pad of paper at hand.
"Knock him out." Roy said to Catalina who immediately fired her rifle at the chimera, hitting him with a tranquillizer dart and knocking him out almost instantly.
"How big do you think it is, General?" Hawkeye asked as Roy looked towards the door.
"I know one way to find out. Does the Fang clan mean anything to you?" Roy asked as a pair of figures dropped down behind him, startling the Briggs troops but not Mustang's men or Karley. Roy turned towards the figures with a calm gaze.
"It does. Where did you hear of them?" Lan Fan asked as she and the figure behind her rose to their feet. The other figure was the same Xingese warrior that had attacked Alphonse several days ago.
"From one of your Generals; Xiao Fujin. She claimed that they were a clan of assassins and retainers to one of the noble clans in Xing. We were attacked by one of the Fang Clan's members outside of the hospital yesterday evening along with a member of the Red Kingdom. We suspect that the Fang Clan is the Red Kingdom's ally from Xing but I suspect that, as they're a retainer to a noble clan, they're merely acting on the orders of their superiors. Can you verify that information?" Roy asked as Lan Fan looked to the figure behind her who nodded quietly. Lan Fan then turned back towards Roy.
"She is correct on both counts. They are assassins and a retainer for a noble clan. Thank you, General. You have helped us identify the traitors within the Xing Empire." Lan Fan said as she and her companion bowed.
"Happy to be of service. You can tell the Emperor that Amestris won't let terrorists endanger his life or the lives of his subjects on our watch." Roy said as Lan Fan nodded.
"The Emperor appreciates your efforts but there is still the matter of dealing with the traitors." Lan Fan said as Karley tore off a slip of paper he had been writing on and handed it to Mustang.
"Sir, new orders from Command." Karley said as Roy read the note.
"The Fuhrer has ordered his private train to be prepared to depart for Ishval tomorrow afternoon in preparation for the opening of the Ishval station." Roy said before burning the note with the snap of his fingers.
"Wait, the Fuhrer is going to be in Ishval?" Falman asked in alarm.
"He'll be a prime target, sir." Hawkeye added.
"You think that's what the Red Kingdom is planning? To assassinate the Fuhrer?" Breda asked.
"It would cause chaos at first but killing him would only bolster the people's resolve to end the Red Kingdom. It wouldn't bring down the country." Sheska stated.
"You're right about that corporal. It won't. But if he's killed by an assassin from Xing, then that could start a war, especially if the Emperor were killed by an Amestrian soldier at the same time." Roy said, his smirk appearing on his face.
"Uh, General, you're making that face again." Fuery commented nervously.
"Besides, the Emperor of Xing isn't going to be anywhere near-…no way! He's gonna be-…" Falman said, alarmed by the realization.
"The Emperor of Xing will be on the train to Ishval to celebrate the opening of the new railroad and to formally establish the alliance with Amestris and the Red Kingdom knows it." Roy said, still smirking.
"We need to warn the Fuhrer about this!" Falman exclaimed.
"Negative! The Fuhrer already knows. It's our job to make sure the threat is neutralized before anything can happen to him. Can we count on your help with this matter?" Roy asked, looking at Lan Fan and her companion. Lan Fan looked to her companion who nodded back silently before Lan Fan looked back at the General.
"You can count on us, General." Lan Fan replied as Roy smirked.
"Then let's get moving. Karley, keep this dog leashed and muzzled." Roy ordered to Karley who gave a smirk and a two fingered salute.
"Yes sir! Also, before you arrived, we received a call from…an anonymous source. They wanted me to get you this note." Karley said as he handed Roy another slip of paper. Roy read the note then furrowed his brow angrily.
"Where the first shot was fired." He mumbled, incinerating the note with a snap of his fingers.
"General?" Hawkeye asked as Roy turned to Karley.
"Is this a secure line?" Roy asked as Karley smirked.
"If it isn't, I'd gladly stand in front of a firing squad of Briggs tanks as punishment, sir." Karley said as Roy picked up the pad of paper and pen, writing something onto the pad.
"I want you to follow these instructions to the letter." Roy said as he handed the pad back to Karley and placed his cap back on his head. He was about to head for the door when he paused, glancing back at the troops in the room.
"General?" Hawkeye asked, concerned.
"Lieutenant Karley, General Armstrong usually kept a personal guard of Briggs soldiers on hand here in Central, correct?" Roy asked as Karley nodded.
"Yes sir." He replied.
"Add them to those instructions I gave you. We're going to need them." Roy said as he headed out the door.
"General, what did that note say?" Hawkeye asked but Roy remained silent. Soon they were in the car on their way back to Central Command, Roy sitting in back with his arms crossed over his chest.
"All of the pieces are coming together. But Fullmetal's part in all of this is still a mystery. What does Fullmetal know that makes him so valuable to the Red Kingdom? They've sent Homunculi after him even, so why are he and his brother so important to them?" Roy asked.
"Could it be the secret of his ability to transmute without a circle?" Hawkeye asked but Roy pondered.
"If that were the case, then they'd also be after me and Izumi Curtis too. Then again, Fullmetal has already made a reputation for himself for being able to do just that, and I typically don't use the clapping transmutation unless I absolutely have to. Mrs. Curtis…she's probably too much of an unknown for them to recognize. But my instincts tell me that they're after Fullmetal for a different reason. I feel that they are after him for some form of alchemical secret, but what it is exactly is still a mystery." Roy said, deep in thought.
"I have a theory, sir. What about Ed's final transmutation? When he brought Alphonse back? It was thus far the only truly successful human transmutation in history wasn't it?" Hawkeye asked.
"Yes but that was because Alphonse's entire being was beyond the gate. He wasn't technically dead." Roy replied.
"It was just a theory, sir." Hawkeye stated.
"A good one, Captain, but my instincts tell me that's not it. When we get to the office, I want you to inform General Fujin of the change in the Fuhrer's travel itinerary. We leave for Ishval tomorrow afternoon with him." Roy said as Hawkeye gave a nod.
"Yes sir." She replied.
"Oh, and bring a change of desert combat gear." Roy said with a smirk, mildly alarming Hawkeye.
"Sir?" she asked in alarm, but received no answer from Roy, only seeing his familiar smirk in the rearview mirror. (End AC)
…
Meanwhile in a park in Central, Dr. Elizabeth Morser stood inside of a phone booth, the receiver in hand as the phone rang. Finally there was an answer on the other end.
"Hello?"
"The Red Kingdom Rises." She said into the phone.
"We've received word that Fullmetal has escaped our grasp yet again in Rush Valley. We have reason to believe that he's headed to Central at this very moment. You are to apprehend him before the military can intervene. I've already sent the girls to assist you." The Immortal Alchemist instructed.
"It will be done." Morser replied.
"One more thing. We are in need of another Philosopher's Stone. Gather the necessary ingredients and bring them to headquarters along with Fullmetal and his entourage. We need them alive." The Immortal Alchemist instructed as Morser saw a mother and her daughter walking through the park nearby.
"Consider it done." Morser said with a smile.
"The Red Kingdom Rises." The Immortal Alchemist said.
"The Red Kingdom Rises." Morser replied, hanging up the phone before moving to exit the phone booth, following along behind the mother and daughter at a distance while signaling to someone in the bushes. Ahead, the daughter was rubbing her eyes sleepily with her left arm while holding onto her mother's hand with her right. The mother was carrying a bouquet of flowers in her other arm.
"Mommy I'm tired." She said with a slight whine.
"We'll be on our way home soon, Elicia. We just need to leave these flowers behind first." Mrs. Hughes replied as they approached another, seemingly ordinary phone booth in the park. It had been the one that Maes Hughes had been murdered in two years ago. They came to a stop at the booth, placing the flowers outside of the booth in front of the door.
"Mommy, why do we come to this phone booth every year?" Elicia asked as Mrs. Hughes sighed sadly.
"It's hard to understand right now Elicia but one day you'll understand." Mrs. Hughes said as Elicia looked at the booth with an unsure look on her face. (AC: Warning – FMA OST 2) She then spotted a figure in the reflection of the glass windows on the booth, the figure standing behind her and Mrs. Hughes. She turned and saw a woman in green with a handful of flowers in hand and a lighter in the other. Mrs. Hughes noticed her daughter's reaction and turned to face the woman curiously.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you need to use the phone?" Gracia asked but Morser smirked.
"Not at all. Actually I'm here to congratulate you and your daughter. You've been selected for two of eighty very important positions to be filled." Morser said as Gracia arched a curious eyebrow.
"Position? You mean like a job? I'm sorry but I can't. I'm a stay-at-home mother and my husband's army pension adequately covers our expenses. Thank you for the offer though but why would you offer me a job when we've never met before?" Gracia asked as Morser smiled darkly at her.
"It wasn't an offer. It was an order." She said simply as a figure emerged from the shadows, a Xingese warrior bearing the markings of the Fang Clan, bearing a Dao sword. Gracia immediately realized what was happening and held Elicia close in fear.
"Please, we're just average citizens! We don't have anything of value!" Gracia pleaded, assuming it to be a robbery, but Morser smirked and pocketed the lighter before pulling her Red Kingdom bandana over her nose and mouth.
"You have your lives, and that in itself is qualification enough." Morser said as she tossed the flowers onto the ground in front of the two Hughes women, stretching out her hand towards the flowers which suddenly withered and died, releasing a strange green gas into the air. The Hughes women started coughing for a moment before passing out, unconscious by the fumes.
"Put them in the truck. We'll need seventy eight more before tomorrow evening." Morser said to the Fang Clansman who nodded silently.
End Chapter 14